Prediction of a Large ASE Effect in Silver Plasmas Produced by a Short-Pulse-Drive Laser

A Ne-like laser scheme is considered for a pure silver plasma. Level populations and gain coefficients are calculated with an atomic-kinetics model. It is shown that large gain values (GL>100) are achievable in a hot dense quasi-steady-state silver plasma at λ=10.038 nm (2-1 transition) and λ=12.298 nm (0-1 transition). Lasing is also possible at λ=2.75 nm (2s-2p transition). The plasma conditions needed are: electron temperature 3–5& keV and density 5 × 1022 < ne < 1023;cm-3;. These plasma conditions can be created with a high-contrast, high-intensity short-pulse visible light laser driver.